HALL-OF-FAME trainer Freddie Roach wants to finally say adios to one of the most illustrious careers in Mexican boxing history.
In an overseas interview with BusinessMirror, Roach said he prefers to see his prized ward, Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, face Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera next.
According to Roach, Barrera is still the most attractive and biggest fight for the 28-year-old Pacquiao.
“Manny will retire Barrera in their rematch,” said Roach. “It’s the fight people want to see. It’s better for Manny to meet Barrera before taking another big fight.”
As a featherweight, Pacquiao gave Barrera 11 rounds of hell in their November 2003 clash for the “people’s championship” at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The win catapulted Pacquiao to boxing stardom, which he still enjoys at the moment.
Roach revealed that among the names mentioned as possible Pacquiao challengers, he sees World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-featherweight champion Joan Guzman as a real threat to the Filipino slugger.
Roach said Guzman may not be a big puncher but his speed and decent skills will be enough to pose problems for Pacquiao.
The 31-year-old Guzman of the Dominican Republic is a two-division world champion and is unscathed with a record of 27-0, 17 by knockout.
Top Rank Inc. top honcho Bob Arum, upon his arrival in the country last week, told BusinessMirror that he is reserving an October 6 outing for Pacquiao.
Arum named four possible opponents for the Filipino phenom, namely Barrera, Guzman, World Boxing Association (WBA) kingpin Edwin Valero of Venezuela and Mexican Humberto Soto.
Arum said he met the camps of both Barrera and Guzman days before he traveled to the Philippines to help Pacquiao in his campaign for a seat in Congress.
According to Arum, Barrera claimed his deal with Top Ranks bitter rival Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) expired last year and that he’s been fighting under the company owned Oscar de la Hoya on a per-fight basis.
“Barrera wants to do the Pacquiao match but I told him to show me the contract before we talk about a Pacquiao bout,” said Arum.
Arum added that though Guzman also fights under the GBP banner, El Cajon-based Sycuan Promotions has the final say on Guzman’s dealings.
As for Valero, Arum claims to have close ties with the Venezuelan’s Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda.
Arum, however, admits that should Valero end up as Pacquiao’s next foe, the card will likely be held outside of the United States.
Valero is currently banned from seeing action in the US after medical tests supposedly revealed a crack in Valero’s skull owing to a motorcycle accident.
In February 2001 Valero, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, fractured his skull and had surgery to remove a cranial blood clot.
Fresh from entering a deal with GBP, Valero was scheduled to appear on HBO’s Boxing After Dark but failed an MRI due to brain scan irregularities in New York.
Part of Arum’s plan is to stage a Pacquiao-Valero showdown in Macau, China. Roach, however, disclosed to BusinessMirror that the Valero bout will only happen if Golden Boy Promotions will promote the bout.
“I don’t think Arum can do that. Valero is still with Golden Boy,” said Roach.
On the other hand, Roach believes Soto will lose the chance to fight Pacquiao this year.
The American guru said Pacquiao’s kid brother Bobby will take care of Soto as the two will meet in a non-title bout on June 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Roach has been training the younger Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym for about a week now.
Meanwhile, Roach wants Manny Pacquiao to have at least eight weeks of preparation regardless of their opponent in October.
Roach added he will have the time to train “PacMan” unlike early this year when the legendary trainer opted to join superstar De La Hoya in Puerto Rico for his fight against Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao instead trained under Australian conditioning coach Justine Fortune for their April gig versus Mexican Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas. Pacquiao kayoed Solis in the eighth round.
As for Fortune, Roach declined to give further comments on their recent split.
Fortune reportedly left Roach’s Wild Card Gym, taking the whole trainer’s fee for the Solis bout with him. “I just wish him the best of luck,” ended Roach.
